Winston Fly Rods Complete Breakdown: Everything You Need To Know
Welcome to our complete guide to Winston fly rods, where we breakdown each of the models and which one fits your style of fly fishing.
Our fly shop is in the heart of Missoula Montana fishing not only trout in our local waters but destination trips around the world for saltwater species.
Winston has been developing top of the line rods for over 90 years and they keep setting the bar higher and higher for the industry.
R.L. Winston Rod Company has been at the forefront of fly rod design, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create some of the finest fly rods in the world.
In this series, we will explore the unique features and advantages of each Winston fly rod, from the versatile and high-performance AIR series to the precision-focused Pure rods.
We will also be talking about how the newer models of Winston fly rods compare to the older models and what upgrades have been done over the years.
Whether you are casting at rising fish with Blue Winged Olives or casting to Tarpon in the salt, Winston has a rod for all styles of fly fishing.
Our fly shop has been selling Winston fly rods for almost 4 decades and it continues to be one of our go to fly rods no matter where in the world we find ourselves fishing.
Lets take a quick look at the current lineup of rods and what makes them unique.
If you want to skip the quick review and go straight into a more in depth look, scroll to the bottom of this page and click the image of each individual rod to find out even more.
Winston Pure
The Winston Pure fly rod is a dedicated dry fly rod from small streams that require pinpoint accuracy to large rivers that require a longer cast and a soft touch.
This rod was designed with tradition in mind and mirrors many of the great attributes that the old school Winston rods with a slower feel for those softer technical presentations.
From casting BWO’s and Tricos to spooky fish to casting larger flies like Salmonflies and Hoppers, this is a great rod for the dry fly angler.
If you’re looking for a rod that has more versatility and more power for larger flies like streamers, keep scrolling down to the Air 2.
This rod is offered in 2 – 5 weights in various lengths.
If you’re looking for a true dry fly rod that is second to none, check out our in depth review on the Pure fly rod by clicking here.
Winston Air 2
The Winston Air 2 is the ultimate workhorse rod that fits just about every fishing situation.
The Air 2 was designed with power and finesse in mind, from streamers to dry flies, this rod can handle just about anything you can throw at it.
This rod is offered in 3-6 weight rods in various lenghts.
If you’re looking for a “do everything rod” this is the rod for you. Check out our full review by clicking here.
AIR 2 Max
The winston Air 2 Max is by far the best saltwater rod we’ve tested out of hundreds of different models across dozens of brands over the decades.
This rod replaced the older BIIISX model with major upgrades in weight, strength and accuracy.
We’ve fished the Air 2 Max various weights across the world including Christmas Island, Baja Mexico, Yucatan, Bahamas, Cuba and more.
Enough power and backbone to punch through wind and fight bigger species like Tarpon, Roosterfish, Sailfish and more.
But enough finesse to present your fly softly in skinny water targeting Bonefish, Permit, Trigger fish and any other flats species you wish.
Not only does it make a superb saltwater rod, it’s also a great rod for streamer fishing rivers handling heavy sinking lines and articulated streamers with ease.
This Winston fly rod is offered in 6 – 12 weight options in various lengths.
If you are looking for a great salt rod or streamer rod, this is the model for you.
If you want to read our in depth review on the Air 2 Max, click here.
